In a dramatic hearing that stretched through the afternoon, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for what it termed a “systemic betrayal of sacred trust.” The bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was visibly irate as it examined the suo motu case on the theft and misappropriation of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols adorning the Sreekovil of Sabarimala Temple.
The matter, originally triggered by a Special Commissioner’s report, revealed that the gold-plated copper covers of the temple’s Dwarapalakas had been removed, transported, and reinstalled in a highly irregular manner - without any official record or mandatory permission.
Background
The controversy first broke when the Special Commissioner informed the court that the Dwarapalakas’ gold cladding had been removed in violation of earlier judicial directions. Investigations uncovered that the idols and related temple artefacts were sent from Sannidhanam to “Smart Creations,” a Chennai-based firm, allegedly under the sponsorship of one Mr. Unnikrishnan Potty.
Initially dismissed as a procedural lapse, the findings soon spiralled into a full-fledged scandal, exposing deep-rooted collusion between certain TDB officials and private parties. “What began as a mere repair work now reveals a pattern of deliberate deception,” the bench noted grimly.
Documents seized by the court indicated that the Dwarapalakas, originally gold-clad by McDowell & Co. Ltd. in 1998–99, had been stripped and replaced with lighter copies. Astonishingly, the weight discrepancy over 4.5 kilograms less gold than originally recorded remained unexplained.
Court's Observations
Justice Vijayaraghavan minced no words:
“This is not mere negligence; it is a shocking betrayal of faith. Temple property is held in trust for the deity and devotees, not for personal gain.”
The court pointed out how the TDB had “mischaracterised gold-clad artefacts as copper plates” in official records. It also took serious note of an email where Mr. Potty admitted retaining gold from earlier temple works even seeking to use it for a girl’s marriage while the Board inexplicably failed to initiate criminal proceedings.
The bench further observed that the minutes book of the Devaswom Board was not maintained properly and many key decisions including the 2025 order to send Dwarapalakas to Chennai had no entry at all. Calling it “a matter of utmost seriousness,” the court said such omissions could not be brushed aside as clerical oversight.
Court's Decision
The High Court has ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officers “of unquestionable integrity” to probe the matter under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The SIT has been directed to:
- Trace the missing gold and verify whether the artefacts now installed are originals or replicas.
- Investigate the role of every official who authorized or ignored the irregular entrustment of sacred objects.
- Conduct scientific analysis to determine the actual loss of gold.
- Probe possible links to art smuggling networks, given the “international resemblance” to prior temple-art thefts.
In a biting remark, the court said:
“It is deeply disturbing that the Travancore Devaswom Board allowed an individual to treat the sanctum’s valuables as his private property. This Court shall ensure accountability at every level.”
The bench concluded by reaffirming that temple assets are not commodities but sacred trusts, and the judiciary will act as the ultimate guardian of that faith.
Case Title: In Re: Heist and Plundering of Gold from the Gold-Cladded Dwarapalakas at Sabarimala Temple
Case Number: WP(C) No. 40608 of 2025 (A)
